Pressing machine



Aug. 24, 1954 I. c. MAXWELL ET AL PRESSING MACHINE ll Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 20 1950 Ha. I

[NVEA/TOQS [RA C. MAXWELL OLE H LANCE/v DAN F2 DLEHAL B way 6 Aug. 24, 1954 l. c. MAXWELL ET AL 2,687,241

PRESSING MACHINE Filed Feb. 20, 1950 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 f/Vl/ENTOQS [QA C. MAXWELL OLE- H LA/vcE/v DAN 1Q DLEHAL WWW ATTORNEY:

4, 1954 c. MAXWELL ET AL PRESSING MACHINE ll Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 20 1950 N w f N X M L M m WE D 4 w M M A H flv 5M 0 1 WW Aug. 24, 1954 Filed Feb. 20, 1950 l. C. MAXWELL ET AL PRES-SING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 fNl/ENTOFPS [RA C AXWELL 01.5 H LANGEN DAN F8 PLEHAL W WMMW ATTORNEYS PRESSING MACHINE Filed Feb. 20, 1950 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 3 N NXNE n 5 r 6 VMLD/ t W Z M a c f M H N 1 Aug. 24, 1954 1. c. MAXWELL ET AL 2,587,241

PRESSING MAl-IINE Filed Feb. 20, 1950 11 Sheets-Sheet f vz/vTop [RA MAXWELL OLE LANGEN DAN 1Q pLEHAL M WMM A ORNE Ys Aug. 24, 1954 c. MAXWELL ET AL PRESSING MACHINE 11 Sheets- Sheet 8 Filed Feb. 20 1950 fA/VENTORS [RA C. MAXWELL OLE H LANGEN DAN Q. DLEHAL M WWW ATTORNEYS Aug. 24, 1954 I. c. MAXWELL ET AL PRESSING MACHINE ll Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Feb. 20 1950 5L L s 2% w m mmL *0 w QH A A Aim fi/ v. B z

m A 4 92 m m a u 2 ew A M 0 MM 0 B a. F 3 3 I 3 7 M w. 7 w Km M 3 3 //8 m A I I G9 .l. 02 P08 M H 4Z3 k m 05 0 N W 3 W 7 a P n Z 9 6 I m 299 2 2 4, 1954 c. MAXWELL ET AL 2,687,241

PRESSING MACHINE Filed Feb. 20, 1950 ll Sheets-Sheet ll CL OS/NG E lN/T/A L PRESS/N6 fNl/E/VTOFPS [RA C. MAXWELL OLE. f7. LAA/GEN DAN R DLEHAL W ZM m Cl OS/NG ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 24, 1954 PRESSING MAOHIN E Ira C. Maxwell and Ole H. Langen, Minneapolis,

and Dan R. Plehal, Robbinsdale, Minn., assignors, by inesne assignments, to The Unipress Company, Incorporated, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application February 20, 1950, Serial No. 145,258

24 Claims.

This invention relates to power driven pressing machinery which has for its purpose the pressing of tubular sections of garments, such as sleeves, pant legs and the like. Apparatus of this character has its principal application in the pressing of the sleeves of shirts, hospital coats, jackets and the like. Heretofore, the pressing of garment sleeves has usually been accomplished by sleeving the tubular section desired to be pressed on a slender form or buck whereupon a longitudinal portion of the tubular section is pressed by bringing a presser head down smartly against the buck. The presser head is then manually released and the tubular section is loosened from the buck and rotated so as to bring a fresh unpressecl area over the buck, and the operation repeated as many times as is necessary to go around a complete tubular section. The pressing function is thus accomplished in two or more lays of the tubular section on the buck. In some few instances machines have been suggested, the object of which is to press the tubular section, such as a sleeve, in one lay of the garment. To accomplish this it has been the usual practice to sleeve the tubular section onto a form of spatulate character, provision usually being made for expanding the spatulate form for the purpose of taking up slack in the tubular configuration to produce a comparatively uniform pressing effect over most of the tubular area of the garment.

Presses of this character have left much to be desired in that they are complicated, heavy and diflicult to use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved pressing machine wherein a sleeve or other tubular garment section may be pressed in a single lay and only a minimum amount of area of the sleeve left out of contact with the presser head.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved pressing machine for pressing a tubular garment section in one lay but by means of a combination of pressing actions of a form with reference to presser heads that are movable by compound motions.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved one-lay pressing machine for tubular garment sections wherein a spatulate form having plural wings is provided capable of being expanded automatically or manually for initially tensioning the tubular garment section on the form and thereafter the pressing operation shall be carried out without further control of the operator.

It is another object of the invention to provide in such a pressing machine improved means for holding a cuff of the garment section during the pressing operation and for automatically releasing the same at the conclusion of the pressing operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved pressing machine for tubular garment sections wherein the pressing operation is carried out by improved methods and wherein all but a single narrow line along the length of the tubular garment section is pressed by contact with the presser heads and in such a machine and method to provide an improved compound pressing action through the cooperative action of a spatulate form against certain portions of the presser head and then automatically by cooperation of the presser head against other portions of the spatulate form.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved spatulate form with one ormore expanding wings for tensioning the garment thereon.

It is a specific object of the invention to provide in a one-lay sleeve press machine cooperative pressing heads having a compound movement translatory and rotary with respect to each other.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved pressing machine having a pair of pressing heads hinged together for maintaining contact with each other so as to present, by their mutual cooperative action, a single pressing area throughout one part of the pressing operation and then to rock them relative to each other for completing the pressing operation.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved pressing machine and method for one-lay pressing of tubular garment sections wherein a comparatively narrow longitudinal area along the tubular garment section is first pressed by cooperative pressing action of a. spatulate form against certain areas of a pair of presser heads and thereafter in sequential and timed relation to have the presser heads moved relative to each other and to the spatulate form for completing said pressing operation by rocking movement.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for operating movement of the spatulate form in a one-lay sleeve press in timed sequence relative to the closure of a pair of presser heads against said spatulate form.

Other and further objects of the invention'are those inherent in the apparatus herein illustrated, described and claimed.

The invention is illustrated with reference to the drawings in which corresponding numerals refer to the same parts and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a machine of the present invention showing the air circuits thereof diagrammatically and illustrating the machine in the open position for sleeving a tubular section of a garment thereon;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view corresponding to Figure 1, but illustrating the pressing mathe machine in the open press position, the

machine being the same as that shown in Figures 1-3;

Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the machine shown in Figures 1-4 and showing the machine in the open press condition;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the spatulate form and a portion of the machine frame showing one of the pressing faces of the spatulate form removed so as to reveal the expanding wing mechanism of the spatulate form;

Figures 7 and 8 are a set of views taken along the line and in the direction of arrows 'l--8 of Figure 3, illustrating the mechanism by which the presser heads are moved toward and away from each other, Figure 7 illustrating the position of the heads in the open press position, and Figure 8 the position of the heads in the closed press position;

Figures 9 and 10 are a pair of views taken along the line and in the direction of arrows 9-Hl of Figure 3, illustrating a transverse section through the presser head and spatulate form, Figure 9 showing the spatulate form with the wings thereof expanded so as to tension the tubular garment section thereon and illustrating in section the presser heads in their spaced condition before pressing action has been initiated. Figure 10 corresponds to Figure 9 but shows the presser heads after they have moved into pressing engagement with the spatulate form;

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the tip end of thespatulate form, Figure 11 being taken along the line and in the direction of arrows lll of Figure 1;

Figure 12 is a sectional view corresponding to Figure 11, except that it is taken along the line and in the direction of arrows l2-l2 of Figure 11. Figures 11 and 12 together show the end construction of the spatulate form and the end holder clamp and its manner of operation;

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view taken along the line and in the direction of arrows l3l3 of Figure 9, illustrating the manner in which the buck cover is fastened to the padded sides of the spatulate form;

Figure 14 is an enlarged view taken along the line and in the direction of arrows l4l4 of Figure 3 and illustrates the manner in which the culf clamps are automatically released during the opening operation of the press;

Figure 15 is an air circuit diagram of the air cylinders and controls therefor of the press shown in Figures 1-14;

Figures 16 through 19 illustrate a modified form of presser head and press construction for improved pressing where it is desired to have all of the sleeve pressed by contact with the pressing head except for one tiny longitudinal area of negligible width. Figure 16 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational View of the presser heads and the mechanism for carrying and mounting the same. Figures 17 and 18 are a pair of views taken along the line and in the direction of arrows lli8 of Figure 16, Figure 17 illustrating the initial portion of the pressing operation by means of which a narrow portion of the sleeved on garment is first pressed by action of the spatulate form against an area formed by the combined actions of the two presser heads, and Figure 18 showing how the pressing action is completed by movement of the presser heads together with consequent separation of the presser heads and division of the area which was initially formed by their cooperative action for the first part of the pressing operation. Figure 19 is a schematic view of the pressing machine showing particularly the air circuits, the pneumatic cylinders for operating the press and the controls therefor.

Referring first to Figures 1 through 14 the pressing machine of the invention comprises a frame having rear upright members 5 and I0 and front upright members 12 and It. The rear members are connected together by cross frame pieces I4 and [5, while the front posts are connected together by cross frame pieces 16 and H. The front and rear posts on'both sides are connected together by side frame members It and 19, as shown in Figure 1, and there are similar side frame members on the opposite side of the press. At about the mid-point from front to back the side frame members l8 and W are connected together by a stiifening brace 20, a similar brace being provided at the opposite side of the machine. From the side rail 18 there extends upwardly at an angle the stiffening frame 21 which serves, as hereinafter pointed out, to carry the presser head actuating mechanisms on which the presser heads are mounted. Each of the posts is preferably provided with a floor plate as at 22.

On the stiffening brace and on the corresponding stiffening brace at the opposite side of the machine, there is mounted a bearing block 24 which serves to carry a shaft 38 upon which a pair of spatulate form mechanisms generally designated 26 and 21 are mounted for swinging movement. These spatulate form mechanisms 26 and 21 are mounted at their lower ends on a swinging housing generally designated 28 com posed of a pair of side plates having a lower edge 29, a curved front edge 30 and a rear edge along straight lines 3! and 32. The side plates are connected together by a curved front sheet 34 and are held in place by the clamps 33 and 35 attached to the side plates 36 and 37 and clamped onto the shaft 38. The housing is open at the rear. The width of the housing, as viewed from the front, is from the side plate 36 to the side plate 31. On the flat face of the housing 32 there is mounted the shaft 38 which extends into the bearing blocks 24 and M]. The curved surface 30 is arcuate around the axis of shaft 38 and just clears the inner edge of the front frame member 11. Hence, the entire housing is free to move in the direction of double arrows 41 (see Figures 2 and 3) about the shaft 38 and as it does so the front panel 34 moves just inside of the rear edge of the frame member 11. Extending upwardly from the top of the housing there are a pair of protub erances Hand 43 which serve as mountings for the individual spatulate forms generally designated 26 and 21. Any convenient form of removable coupling can be used between the spatulate forms and these protuberances 42 and 43 so as to permit the removal of the spatulate form mechanisms as units from the housing. The construction of the spatulate forms will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

Extending across from the protuberances 42 and 43 there is provided a pan 45 having a flat portion at 46, a rear upwardly curved edge 41 and a downwardly and then upwardly curved front portion 48 which serves to hold the remainder of a garment, the tubular portions of which may be sleeved on the forms. The pan is set high enough on the protuberances 42 and 43 so that it easily clears the frame of the machine when the member 28 and the spatulate form are moved arcuately and the'rear portion of the pan is sufficiently narrow so that it moves in between the frame brace 2| and the corresponding brace on the opposite side of the machine.

Referring to Figure 4, it will be observed that at the left end of the shaft 38, as viewed from the front, there is provided a crank at 5c which is connected by a link SE to a hydraulic shock absorbing mechanism '52. The crank 5!], link 5! and hydraulic shock absorber 52 are also shown in Figure 1 and to some extent in Figures 2 and 3. This mechanism serves to slow down and cushion the movement of the spatulate form assembly at the limits of its arcuate travel.

At the right end of shaft 38, as viewed from the front, there is provided an operating crank 53 which is connected by the clevis 54 to the piston rod 55 of the closing air cylinder 55, the rear end of the air cylinder being pivoted at 51 on the bracket 58 mounted to the rear frame member of the machine. To the lower end of the operating crank 53 there is also pivotally attached at 69 one end of the spring lit, the opposite end of the spring being likewise attached to the rear frame member 9 of the machine. The spring. 6! is tensioned so that it normally pulls the crank 53 to the position shown in Figure 1, the limit of travel in this direction being determined by a channel iron 25 which is positioned between the corner posts l2 and I3, it being noted that the bottom of sides 36 and 31 rest on the channel. In this position the spatulate forms 26 and 2'! are upright, as shown in Figure 1. The limit of travel to the position shown in Figures 2 and 3 is determined by an adjusting cap screw 64 that is screwed into the lever 53 and held in adjusted position by the lock nut 65. The head of this ca screw hits against a stop 66 that is firmly fastened to the front frame post l3 of the machine.

Upon the stop 66 there is mounted an air control valve 53 having an operating stem 69 that is normally pressed towards the rear of the machine'by the spring 19. The operating stem 69 is in a position so that it will be engaged by the head 63 of a second cap screw that is likewise threaded into the lever 53, this screw also being held in adjusted position by the lock nut H. The air valve 68 is normally closed, in the position shown in Figure 1, but is operated when the head 63 of the screw presses against the op erating stem 59 of the valve. This occurs when the spatulate form mechanism 28-26-21 has been swung to the position shown in Figure 3, and upon operation of valve 68 the presser heads are moved into engagement with the spatulate form, as hereinafter more fully described. Upon the shaft 38, which serves to pivot the spatulate form mechanism, there is also fixedly attached the lever 72 which has a hardened pad of steel at 13. The hardened and machined surfaces at the end and face of the pad 13 serve as locking surfaces, as will presently be described.

Upon the rear of the machine there is mounted a heavy cross frame member, as shown at 15 in Figure 5, which serves to support a pivot block it carrying the pivot pin 11 on which the lower end of the large air cylinder 18 is mounted. The piston rod "19 of the cylinder moves in and out a short distance from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 3. The piston has a clevis :86 at its upper end which carries the single-tree 8i having pivots 82 and 83 at its outer ends. Extending crosswise in respect to the press, from the bracer frame 2| to the corresponding bracer frame on the opposite side of the press, there are provided the heavy brace members 84 and 86 and at each end of these levers there are provided pairs of bearings 87-8! and 3388. In the airs of aligned bearings 81 there is pivotally mounted the shaft 90 and in the bearings 83 there is pivotally mounted the shaft 9i. To the lower end of the shaft 99 there is attached the crank 92 and to the lower'end of the shaft 91 there is attached a similar crank es. Each of these cranks is keyed or pinned to its shaft so that when the crank 92 or 93 is actuated, the shafts at and 9!, respectively, will likewise'be actuated. The cranks are actuated by links 94 and 95 which connect the crank 92 to the pivot 32 on the single-tree 8!, the crank 93 being likewise connected by the links 95 to the pivot 83 on the single-tree. Accordingly, as the clevis 88 on the end of the piston rod 19 is moved in the direction of arrow 89, by movement of the piston rod is outwardly from cylinder 18 when air is applied, this moves the single-tree 8! in the same direction, and it pulls on the links 94 and 95, causing the cranks 92 and 93 to be moved in the direction of arrows 9E and 91. The effect of this relatively short arcuate movement of the cranks Q2 and 93 and the corresponding arcuate movement of the shafts 98 and 9 l, respectively, is

to cause the presser heads WI and I82 to move toward each other and to cause the presser heads H13 and it' l likewise to move towards each other into pressing engagement with the spatulate forms. The fact that the single-tree 8| is pivoted at 85 on the clevis 89 permits an equalization of movement in case a lesser amount of novement of one set of, presser heads l0|l02 is accomplished than for heads I03 and IM, or vice versa. The effect is that piston rod 19 will continue to travel upwardly and move the clevis all in the direction of arrow 89 until the pairs of presser heads IQI-lfiZ'and HIS-404 are moved firmly into engagement with the spatulate form. When air is exhausted from cylinder 18, the reverse operation takes place.

The mechanism by which the rotation of shafts $0 and 9! moves presser heads ll-402 and [03- I04, respectively, can best be seen in Figures 1, '7 through 10. On brace member 2! and the corresponding brace member on the opposite side of the machine, there is provided a bearing composed of plates I01 and I08 that are spaced apart by the block I89 and I l I. These plates and blocks form bearing surfaces in which the slide members H2 and H3 are adapted to move endwise. Referring to Figure 7 it will be observed that at the middle of the machine there is provided a similar bearing slide of which the top plate I I4 is visible in Figure '7 and the bottom plate H is visible in Figure 5. There plates serve to support the opposite ends of the slide bars H2 and H3. It will be noted that each of the slide bars are notched away along their adjacent surfaces. Thus, bar H2 is notched away at each end so as to provide bearing surfaces I I2A and II2B and the bar H3 is notched away so as to provide bearing surfaces II3A and H3B. Between the upper and lower bearing plates, such as between plates I01 and I08, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, and at about the middle thereof, there is provided a through bolt at I I 5 on which the hardened roller I I1 is adapted to turn. Similarly, a hardened roller I I8 is pivoted on the bolt H9 on the center bearing II4. Accordingly, the bars H2 and H3 can move back and forth a limited amount. As shown in Figure 7 the shaft 90 terminates in a fiat end plate I havingpivots at I2I and I22, each pivot being provided with a hardened bearing roller as at I23 for pivot I2I and I24 for pivot I22. The bar H2 is provided with a transverse slot at I25 and the bar H3 is provided with a transverse slot at I26, these slots being only long enough topermit the rise and fall of rollers I23 and I24 in their respective slots. It will be remembered that the end plate I20 attached to the shaft 90 moves arcuately a slight amount corresponding with the arcuate movement of the shaft 90 and the lever 92, Figure 5, and this imparts back and forth arcuate movement to the pins I2I and I22, as shown by the arrows I28 and I29. As this arcuate movement is imposed upon the pivot pins I2I and I22, they impose a corresponding movement on the bearing sleeves I23 and I24, and the latter impose a back and forth movement on the sliding plates H2 and H3.

Referring to Figures '7 and 8, the slide plate I I2 has an upstanding arm I30 fixed thereon which, at its upper end, has fixed thereto a cross plate I3I of liberal dimensions. Similarly, the slide plate H3 has a stifi' upstanding arm at I32 and carries a rectangular cross plate at I33. Both of the cross plates I3I and I33 and their supporting arms are positioned so that the outer tip end of the arms I30 and I32 are nearly opposite each other at the region I34, for bracket I32, as shown in Figures 1-3. The plates I3I and I33 for each of the brackets are substantially aligned and at their four corners are apertured so as to receive therethrough four studs extending outwardly from the presser heads that they serve to support. Thus, as shown in Figures 1-3, the plate I33 has the studs I35 at each of its outer corners, the studs being capped with nuts under which are disposed the springs I31 as shown in Figures 7-8. The studs are firmly mounted in the presser head IOI, Figures 1-3, and between the presser head and the middle of the plate I33 there is a rounded bearing buttonat I30 which can, if desired, be backed up by a very stiff spring, not shown. The springs I3I are tensioned enough so that the button I38 is held firmly against the center of the plate I33, and the springs are adjusted so that the presser head IOI is nearly parallel to the adjacentface of the spatulate form 26 when the latter is in place for pressing.

The mounting for the presser heads I02, I03 and I04 is exactly similar, it being noted that the rounded bearing button I40 between the presser head I02 and its supporting plate I3I, is likewise at the center of the plate and is in alignment with the button I38. The pressure is applied by the upstanding arm I30 which is attached to the slide bar I I2, and I32 which is attached to the slide bar H3. In Figure '7 the slide bars are shown in the position where they hold the two presser heads HM and I02 separated from each other, but when the shaft is turned in the direction of arrow I4I the slide bar I I2, which carries the presser head I02, will move in the direction of arrow I42 and the slide bar H3, which carries the presser head IOI is moved in the direction of arrow I43, thus moving the presser heads toward each other to the position shown in Figure 8. It will be appreciated that in Figure 8 the spatulate form is not shown in order that the drawings may not be too complicated, but the spacing of the presser heads in Figure 8 is the closed-press condition in which the inner surfaces IIlIA and I02A of the two opposed presser heads are in engagement with the pressing surfaces of the spatulate form. The rounded buttons I38 and I40 permit freedom of movement in all directions and hence equalization of the pressure against the spatulate forms. The position of the rounded buttons I38 and I40 relative to the spatulate form is such that it is at substantially the center of pressure against the spatulate form, as shown in Figure 2. When the shaft 00 is rotated in the direction opposite to arrow I4I, the reverse function is obtained and the presser heads I0! and I02 are moved from the position shown in Figure 8 to the position shown in Figure 7.

In Figures 7 and 8 there are also shown the ends of the slides I45 and I45 winch are mounted in exactly the same way as slides H2 and H3 and in axial alignment with those slides. The slide I45 serves to carry presser head I03, whereas slide I46 carries presser head I04, the slides I45 and I45 being operated in precisely the same way as described for slides H2 and H3, except from shaft 9I, Figure 5. In this manner, when air cylinder I3 is energized and air under pressure is introduced into it, the presser heads I0! and I02 are moved from the position shown in Figure 5 to the closed press position where they engage the spatulate form 26. At the same time the presser heads I03 and I04 likewise engage their spatulate form 21.

To the clevis 00 there is attached a cross bracket I48, Figure 5, which extends a little more to the left, as shown in Figure 5, than it does to the right. At equal distances on the opposite sides of the cylinder I8 are a pair of springs I49 and I50, the upper ends of each of these springs being attached to the cross bar I48 and the lower ends to the cross frame member I5. The springs serve to retract the piston rod 79 into its cylinder and hence to move the presser head IOI-I02 and I03I04 to the open-press position shown in Figure 5. At the left end of the cross bar I48, as shown in Figure 5, there is a control rod I5I which has a collar and side extension I52 attached to it. The side extension. I52 pushes the lever bars I54 to the upright (unlocking) position, Figures 1 and 2, and in this position they do not lock against plate I3 of the lever I2. Lever bars I54 are spaced from each other and pivoted about the pivot pin I 55 on the bracket I55. Between the upper spaced ends of the lever bars I54 there is a roller I58 that is positioned so that when the lever I54 is moved from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 3, the roller will enter over the hardened locking plate I3 on the locking lever 9 12 that is attached to the shaft 38. The rod I5I is drawn upwardly when the cylinder 18 has air introduced into it for moving the presser heads I II02 and I03I04 to the closed-press posi tion, which-is shown in Figure 3, and as it leaves contact with the lower end of lever arms I 54 the weight of the roller I 58 at the upper end causes them to fall down to the locking position shown in Figure 3 where the roller I58 has entered over the plate 13 on the lever 12. In this position the roller I58 and lever I 54 serve to hold the lever 12 from movement in the direction of arrow I69 and hence prevent the spatulate form mechanism from being retracted from the position shown in Figures 2-3 to the position shown in Figure 1. The locking effect of lever I54 continues until the rod I 5! is moved back down to the position shown in Figure 1, at which time the collar and arm I 52 on the rod again engages against the lower end of arm I 54 and causes it to he moved from the posi tion shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 2. This unlocking accordingly occurs only after the presser heads Nil-I92 and I93I04 have been moved to the completely open-press position, at which time the spatulate forms are in condition to be swung outwardly from the position shown in Figures 2-3 to the position shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 6, 9 and 10, particularly, each of the spatulate forms generally designated 26 and 21 are of identical construction and hence only one need be described. Referring to Figure 6 which shows the spatulate form 26, the form has a central main brace I64 which extends from the upper level I65 of the protuberance 42 up to the cap portion generally designated I66 on the upper end of the spatulate form. This main backbone of the spatulate form has a transverse thickness which determines the thickness of the spatulate form at its mid-portion. Upon each side of this backbone piece I64 there is a metal shell as at I61 and I68, Figures 9 and 10, the

shell pieces I61 and I68 being flanged down along their front and rearedges as at I69 and I19 for the shell piece I 61 and at HI and I12 for the shell piece I68. The flanges I99 and I'll are spaced from each other, as are flanges I10 and I12, and extending out through the flanges are wing pieces generally designated I15 and I16. The wings have a central metallic piece I18 for wing I15 and I19 for wing I16 and each wing is covered by a padding which extends out and curves around its outer edge. Thus, the metal piece I18 which is cut tothe contour shown in Figure 6 is covered by the padding 118A, whereas the metal piece I19 iscovered by the padding I19A, the padding being fastened in any suitable way as by staples along the rear edges at I18B and H93 Each of the metal center pieces as I18 and I19 is provided with an inwardly extending tail. Thus, the metal piece I18 which forms the front wing has the inwardly extending tail I80, which is pivoted at I8I upon a lever I82, the lever in turn being pivoted at I83 upon the housing 42. Similarly, the thin or central metal piece I19 of the rear wing has an inwardly extending tail piece I85 which is pivoted at I86 to the lever I81 which is in turn pivoted at I 88 upon the the pair of arrows I94, suflicient to allow the wing I 16 enough freedom of movement to conform to sleeves or tubular garment portions of varying taper. The front to back width of the wing I 16 can accordingly be made somewhat narrower than for the wing I15. Excessive tipping movement of the wing I15 is prevented by the width of the wing, as compared to the dimensions of the remaining components of the spatulate form. Upon each of the long levers I81 and I82, and adjacent their respective pivots I88 and I83 there is fixedly mounted a gear segment. Thus, the lever I82 has a gear segment I attached to it and centered about the pivot I83, while the lever I81 has a gear segment I 96 attached to it and centered about the pivot I88. The effect of these gear segments is that it equalizes the movement of the levers I82 and I81, since when one moves the other is likewise compelled to move by interaction of the gear segments I95 and I96. A tension spring at I91 is provided between the lower ends of the long levers I82 and I81 which causes the lower ends of the levers to be drawn together. At the lower end of each lever there is likewise provided a roller. Thus, roller I98 is provided at the lower end of lever I82 and roller I99 is provided at the lower end of the lever I89. These rollers are provided so as to move the lower ends of the levers I82 and I81 apart and hence to move their upper ends together so as to move the wing sections I 15 and I16 into the confines of the spatulate form. When the rollers I98 and I99 are not pushed apart the spring I91 pulls the levers together at their lower ends and causes the wings I15 and I16 to be moved outwardly with respect to the body of the spatulate form.

Movement of the rollers is controlled by means of a cam 200 having front and rear faces for engaging the rollers. The cam is mounted upon a tipping plate 29! that is in turn mounted for tipping movement about the pivot 202 on the frame 803. The tipping plate 20I has a downwardly extending fixed member 204 which has its lower end pivotally connected at 205 to a link 296 which is in turn pivotally connected at 208 to the lower end of a hand lever 209 that is pivoted at 2H3 on the front of the machine frame. The upper end 2i I of the hand lever can be moved from the full line to the dotted line position, as shown in Figure 6, and when this occurs the tipping plate is drawn downwardly by the link 204, which is pivoted to the plate at the pivot 2I2 and accordingly the cam 200 is withdrawn from between the rollers I98 and I99, thereby permitting the wings I15 and I16 to be expanded by action of the spring I 91. This expanding effect can be obtained manually by the operator, by moving the lever 2H from the full line position to the dotted line position in Figure 6, and the wings can be retracted by opposite movement. The operator accordingly can move the lever 2II tothe full line position, and with the wings I 15 and I16 thus retracted, as shown in Figure 6, the sleeve or pant leg of a garment can easily be pulled onto the spatulate form. The operator can then move the lever 2II to the dotted line position of Figure 6 and the garment will be tengradually lets down the roller I98 and a corresponding surface 2903 at the rear which lets down the roller I99 until they are entirely free of the cam. These surfaces 202A and 2923 are positioned with reference to the pivot shaft 3 3 so that rollers I98 and I99 are permitted gradually to move towards the wing expanding position as the entire spatulate form is moved towards the position shown in Figure 2. Therefore, even though the operator does not manipulate lever 2II, the wings I15 and I16 are nevertheless expanded.

Referring to Figures 11 and 12, at the upper end of the spatulate form 26 and also spatulate form 2'! there is an end cap I66 of highly polished metal, such as a chrome plated casting. This casting has a smooth exterior surface through which the bent hold-down bolt 213 passes and then extends in threaded engagement at 2H3 into the upper end of the central stiffening frame member I64. By removing the ornamental nut 2I6 the entire cap I156 can likewise be removed. The cap is kept from twisting by a number of cleats 211 on its interior surface, which engage the inner surfaces of the main frame pieces it? and IE8. On the interior of the cap I55 there is a small pivot bracket 2I8 which pivotally sup ports the stem 2I9 at the pivot 22%. The stem has a flattened lower end 221 that engages against the inner end 222 of a push rod 223 that is normally pushed inwardly by the spring 224 that pushes against the washer 225 that is in turn held in place by the cotter pin 225. The stem 223 extends outwardly through a hole in the side of the cap piece I66 and at its outer surface carries a plate 228 that has gripping portions 228A and 228B for engaging the two separated ends of a cuif when the sleeve, with the cuff on it, is on the spatulate form. The plate 228 has a downwardly extending end portion 230 that is bent inwardly at 231 through an aperture 232 in the cap I68. In this way the plate 228 is kept from twisting. The lever 219 is manipulated manually by means of a smooth handle piece 234 that eX- tends out through a closely shaped notch 235 in the cap I66, The handle piece can be engaged by the finger of the operator and moved in the direction of arrow 235 to accordingly push against inner end 222 of the stem 223 and thereby move the plate 228 outwardly for the insertion of the ends of the cuff under the gripping places 228A and 228B. The stem ZIQ is round and is adapted to be engaged by the couple of spring-pressed balls or indent 231 that are held between the bifurcated end 238 of the bracket 2I8. The stem 2I9 can accordingly be held in the position shown in Figure 11 or in the dotted line position, where the plate 228 is pushed out to the dotted line position. Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 it will be observed that a bracket is provided at 248 on the rear of the press and the bracket is in T shape, as shown in Figures and 14. At each of the outer ends 245A and 2423 of the bracket 240 there is provided a pivotally mounted plate MI and 242, each having a weight at 24 IA and 242A so as normally to hold it in the position shown in Figure 14. The thumb piece 234 of the spatulate form 26 and the corresponding thumb piece 243 of the spatulate form 21 have engaging surfaces at 234A and 243A which engage the ends of the swinging plates MI and 242 as the spatulate forms move in the direction of arrows 244 when the press begins to open. When this occurs the hand pieces 234 and 243 are pushed apart, as shown by the arrow 236, and this accordingly snaps the stem ZIEL'Figure 11, of the spatulate form 26' and the corresponding stem of the spatulate form 21 from the position shown in full lines in Figure 11 to the dotted line position where it is held by the detent balls 23?, and accordingly when the press reaches the fully open position shown in Figure 1, the cuffs are released and the operator can readily remove the sleeves from the spatulate form.

Referring to Figure 13 and Figures 9 and 10, each of the metal shell pieces I61 and I68 is provided with a pad as at I6'IA and IEBA, and over this is stretched a very finely woven smooth cover at H313 and I683. The covers extend around the padding and on the inside of the covers they are hemmed and provided with wires in the hem as at (MC in Figure 13. Hool s 245 are fastened on the studs 24"! and are of springy character and have bent down tips 248A which engage through the cloth of the cover and under the wires I570. The wires 2% being springy are tensioned around their mounting studs 24? so as to pull in the direction of arrows 248 and this, pulling against the wires ItI'C, serves to tension the cover (6113 tightly around the padding Iii'IA. Covers made of woven nylon give excellent service.

Referring to Figures 9 and 10, Figure 9 shows the spatulate form 25 with the garment G sleeved thereon and with the wings I and moved outwardly so as to tension the garment. The garment pulls over the outer surface of the padding cover but stretches from the edges B to the outer edge of the wings. When the presser heads I9! and W2 are brought into pressing engagement with the spatulate form, the sleeve, which initially spanned from the corners B to the edges of the wings, is brought down into engagement with the inturned ends of the padded outer surfaces and also into engagement with the padded surfaces of the wings. The inner surfaces IGIA and I02A of the presser heads are each essentially a longitudinal groove having edge flanges, the whole being shaped so as to conform in each case to one side of the padded outer surfaces of the pad covers I613 and 168B, and the fins I'I'Ei and I18 and accordingly pressing contact is achieved throughout the entire circumference of the tubular sleeve form, except at the edges EE, as shown in Figure 10. This is no disadvantage, particularly for the pressing of the sleeves of white jackets, such as hospital coats, interns coats, etc., but may be considered as a slight disadvantage for the finished pressing of mens white shirts.

It may be mentioned that each of the presser heads IlIIII2IIl3-I04 is made in the form of an inner pressing surface and a housing over the rear thereof so as to provide a steam chest to which steam is admitted for heating purposes. If desired, a steam pipe I13 may be run up into the interior of the spatulate form so as to provide drying heat for maintaining the form free from moisture. I

The spatulate form 21 is exactly the same as 2'6 and both are moved in unison. The operator takes the coat or a shirt and sleeves both of the sleeves onto the two spatulate forms 25 and 21 and holds the cuffs, where the cuffs are open, such as a barrel cuff or a French cuff, in place in wet condition by inserting them under the clip 2213, Figures 11 and 12, and then by operating the controls of the press now to be described, the

pressing operation is carried out.

Referring to Figure 15 air is admitted by way of the supply line 250 which extends to the clos- 13 ing push button 251 and the opening push button 252. When the push button 25I is operated air is admitted through line 253 to the pilot cylinder 254 of the air operated three-way mam control valve 255. In Figure the valve 255 is shown in the press open position in which no air is delivered from line 256 to line 251 and line 251 is open to the exhaust muffler 258. When air is introduced into the pilot cylinder 254 the operating lever 259 of the valve 255 is moved from the full line to the dotted line position, and in this position air is permitted to flow from line 6 to line 251 and thence through the timer valve 266, which is a needle valve, to the closing cylinder 56 previously described. The closing cylinder serves to move lever 53 from the position shown in Figure l to the position shown in Figure 2, and when this occurs the lever 53 which carries the adjusting stud 64, Figure l, pushes against the valve 68 and air is then admitted by way of line 26I to the line 262. Line 262 extends to a quick exhaust valve 263 having a casing 25 and a piston 265 therein that is normally held in the position shown in Figure 15 by means of the internal spring 266. When air is introduced against the piston 265 it is driven down into engagement with the valve surface 261, and accordingly the engagement of the piston against the valve surface closes the port 261 which leads to the quick exhaust muffler 268 and in this position the piston uncovers the side port 269 which is coupled through pipe 21!] to the squeezing cylinder 18. Accordingly, when valve 68 is opened air first operates the valve 263 and then introduces air into the cylinder 18 which brings about the movement of the presser head IOI--IE!2 and IIJ3IIl4 from the position shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 3 where they are in pressing engagement with the spatulate forms 26 and 21.

At the same time as valve 68 introduces air into line 262, air under pressure is introduced into line 2'" and through the timer valve 213 into the timing cylinder 214. After a predetermined pressure has been built up in the timing cylinder 214 it moves the stem 215 and causes the lever 216 to be rocked about its pivot 211 and into engagement with the operating stem 218 of the valve 219, thus opening that valve and permitting air to flow through line 289 and through the valve 219 and thence through the check valve 26I into line 282 and thence into the opening'pilot cylinder 283 which serves, when air is introduced into it, to move the main operating lever 259 of the main valve 255 to the full line position. It will be noted also that the operator may operate the opening push button 252and introduce air from line 250 through the valve 252 and through line 284, line 282 into the opening pilot cylinder 283. When this is done the check valve 281 prevents air from backing up through the valve 219 which may at that time be open. When the cylinder 283 has air introduced into it and the valve 255 is accordingly opened, air is exhausted from the line 251 and 26I and through the then open valve 68, it being remembered that the locking lever' I 5 1, when the piston in cylinder 13 has been actuated, locked the spatulate form in the position shown in Figure 3. In this position valve 58 is held open and accordingly air exhaust from line 26I and also through valve 58 from lines 262, 221i and through the then open valve 263 from line 210 and cylinder 18. As soon as the pressure drops slightly in line 210 and cylinder 18, the spring 256 within the quick-opening valve 263 valve port 269 is uncovered and the piston 265 is lifted off the port 261, thus permitting the air from cylinder 18 quickly to exhaust through mufiler 268. Line 21I is in the meantime exhausted to line 262 and thence through valve 68 and lines 26I and 251 to muffler 258, thus decreasing the pressure in the timing tank 214. When the piston in cylinder 18 has completely retracted, the locking lever I54 is lifted off the locking pad 13 on lever 12 and then only is the spatulate form mechanism and its operating piston rod 55 in cylinder 56 permitted to swing back from the position shown in Figures 2-3 to the position shown in Figure 1, and only then is valve 68 again closed.

Accordingly, it is possible in one lay of the sleeve on the press to achieve a complete pressing operation in which the polished surfaces of the presser heads are brought into engagement with all of the exterior surface of the tubular garment member, except for the very narrow areas E-E, see Figure 10.

As previously mentioned for white shirts it is desirable not to have any area which is exposed during the wearing of the shirt, which has not been contacted by the smooth and polished pressing surfaces of the presser head. In order to achieve this perfection of pressing there is utilized the presser head arrangement shown in Figures 16-18 and the controls of Figure 19. By virtue of this arrangement it is possible to press the entire circumference of a tubular garment member except for one narrow longitudinal line, which can by properly arranging the sleeve on the spatulate form be chosen as a narrow line which is on the inside of the sleeve, toward the body of the shirt and hence not visible, all outer and visible portions of the sleeve being completely pressed against the smooth polished surface of the presser head. In order to accomplish this end the pressing machine is exactly as previously described, except for the following changes:

Referring to Figures 16 there is illustrated a modified form of mounting for the presser head. In Figure 16 presser head IEII is illustrated, it being understood that head I02 faces it and that the presser heads I 03 and HM are mounted in a manner about to be described. In Figure 16 the bracket I32 which carries presser head II)! is provided at its outer end with a rounded shaft portion I32A which is threaded at its outer end 1323. Upon this rounded shaft there is mounted a hub 285 which has integral solidly mounted extending spokes 286 and 281 extending radially from the hub and opposite each other.' The spokes 236 and 281, which are thus aligned and mounted on the hub 285,'are free to turn on the rounded shaft portion I32A of the bracket I32, the hub 285 being retained in place by a pair of nuts 288. The outer ends of thetwo spokes 286 and 281 are likewise provided with rounded shaft portions 239 for spoke 236 and 291) for spoke 281 which are received in the pillow block bearings 291 for the shaft end 289 and 292 for the shaft end 290. The bearing blocks, which are best shown in Figures 17 and 18, are each fastened to the presser heads. Thus, the bearing block 29I shown in Figure 18 is fastened to the presser head I III by cap screws 294-294 or other suitable fastening means, the bearing 292 being likewise so fastened. For the presser head I92 the bearing bracket I39 is made similar and is provided with a shaft end, not shown, corresponding to the shaft end [32A for the bracket I32 and there is provided a similar hub portion held in place thereon which has radial integral spokes corresponding to spokes 286 and 281. In Figure 18 one of these spokes 295 is visible and is received in the bearing block 293 which is held in place by the cap screws 297. The effect of this mounting is that each of the presser heads IM and I02 is permitted a freedom of rotation about the shaft end 132A for presser head IM and the corresponding end on the bracket I30 for presser head I02 which permits the presser heads to move towards and away from each other at the upper and lower ends around these shaft ends. At the same time the presser heads each have a freedom of motion about the axis of the spokes 28628I for presser head No. 1 and the axis of the corresponding spokes of which 295 for presser head I02 is shown in Figure 18 which allows the presser heads to move like a hinge with respect to each other about the mating lower edges 29B of Figures 11 and 18.

The presser heads I! and I02 and also I03-I04 have cooperating wide flanges at 300 for head WI and 3M for head I02 and through the flanges extend loosely the bolts 302 which have nuts on opposite ends thereof and which are equipped with springs 303 and 304 as shown in Figures 17 and 18. On the flange 300 there is mounted aconical locating tip 305 which reaches into a correspondingly shaped conical recess 306 on the flange 30I. The effect of this bolt and spring arrangement composed of a plurality of bolts 302 and spring 303304 for each bolt, located along the length of flanges 30! and 300, as shown in Figure 16, is that the flanges are drawn together into mating relationship under the action of the springs 303 and 304 whenever the presser heads I0! and I02 are moved to the open press position, shown in Figure 17, by virtue of the corresponding movement of the brackets I32 and I30 and the press mechanism, The effect of the locating pins 305 and recesses 306 is that the pins very accurately locate the inner corner 308 of the presser head IOI with reference to the inner corner 309 of the presser head I02 when the heads are pulled by the spring-bolt arrangement to the position in IOII02. Accordingly, when the presser heads are in the position shown in Figure ll, there is provided a very smooth polished pressing surface which reaches around from the area Hill) of presser head IOI through the curved portion IOIE of the same presser head and across the meeting line defined by the edges 308 of presser head I0! and 309 of presser head I02, thence around the curve I02E of presser head I02 to the more fiat region I02D of presser head 102. When the presser heads IOI and I02 are thus in the position shown in Figure 1'7, a smooth curved bottom pressing surface, which is heated by steam, is provided along the area IOIE, 308, 309, 102E.

The spatulate form generally designated 3I0 that is used in conjunction with this presser head arrangement of Figures 17 and 18 is exactly the same as that previously described with reference to Figures l-15, except that the rear wing H6 is removed and the metal I61 and I60 is shaped so that their rear flanges I10 and I12, respectively, meet together along the line 3H so as to form an integral whole, and the padding and the pad cover are run continuously around this curve. Accordingly, the spatulate form has a smooth curved rear portion in the area 3 I 2 which has an exposed pressing surface having a radius just very slightly in excess of the radius of the curve defined by portions IOIE-308-309I02E previously mentioned. The front wing I15 of the spatulate form 3? is precisely the same as that previously described with reference to Figures 9-10, etc. and is movable in and out for tensioning the tubular garment portion G on the spatulate form BID.

The only other modifications of the machine are that in this form of mechanism the cylinder 53 is of relatively greater size and diameter and power than in the machine previously described. In the machine referred to with reference to Figures l-15, the cylinder 56 serves merely to swing the spatulate forms into position for pressing but the cylinder 56 did not produce any pressing operation. In the present form of the invention, Figures 16-19, the cylinder does perform the initial part of the pressing operation. Thus, in the initial-part of the operation the spatulate forms, as just described, built like the form 3E0, are swung into the position shown in Figure 17, at which time the presser heads, such as heads IN and I02 are open and in this position the line 308 of head IN is contiguous with the line 309 of head I02. Accordingly, as the spatulate form 3I0 is swung into the thus open presser heads, the curved portion 3I2 of the garment stretched on the spatulate form is forced into pressing engagement with the curved surface IDIE, 308, 309, [02E and pressing occurs. The main cylinder I8 is then operated, either manually or automatically and the presser heads I0! and I02 are moved towards each other. When this occurs the portion .of the pressing surface at IMF and I02Ev rolls along the CO1;- responding surface of the spatulate form 310 and accordingly the edges 303 of head HM and 309 of head I02 are pulled away from each other, meanwhile compressing the springs 303-304 as a result of this pull-away effect. At the same time the remaining portions of the longitudinal grooves of the two presser head ironing surfaces come into engagement with the unpressed portions of the garment on the spatulate form extending around the dimension F for presser head ml and H for presser head I02 until the presser heads reach the position shown in Figure 18 and therefore the only portion of the tubular garment section which is not contacted by the polished surfaces of the presser heads during some part of the pressing operation, is the tiny edge area K of Figure 18. Since the operator can drape the tubular garment section appropriately on the spatulate form 3I0, this portion K which is very narrow, ranging from of an inch can be the under side of the sleeve, that is to say that portion of the sleeve which is toward the body of the wearer, and hence this portion is not visible when the shirt or coat is worn, all visible portions having been contacted by the polished pressing surfaces of the presser head.

The sequential operation of cylinder 55 and cylinder I8 for this method of pressing, as illus trated in the revised form shown in Figures 1649, can be accomplished automatically by utilizing the controls shown in Figure 19. In Figure 19 air is supplied at line 250, as previously described, and is admitted through the closing push button valve 25! to the closing pilot cylinder 254 of the master control valve (three-way valve) 255. When the valve 255 is moved by the piston in cylinder 254 to the position shown in Figure 19,

. 17 air is admitted as before through line 256 and valve 255 to line 251 and through the timing valve 260 which may optionally be included in this modification, and thence into the cylinder 56 which upon energization causes its piston rod 55 to be actuated which moves the crank lever 53 and the shaft 33 to swing the spatulate form 3H) in the direction of arrow 3% to the position shown in Figure 17. It will be remembered that at this time the cylinder is does not have air entering it and accordingly the presser heads ll-I02 and presser heads I53-l5i are in the position shown in Figure 17. This initial movement of the spatulate forms accomplishes the pressing of area 3 l 2 of the sleeve on the spatulate form while the presser heads ll-l52 and 103-105 are in the open press position.

For ordinary negligee shirts it is desirable to press the edge M2 for about three seconds. It Will be understood, of course, that heavier garments may require much longer timing for this first portion of the pressing operation and that lighter garments a lesser length of pressing.

The timed closure of the presser heads It ll 52 and I03HM by virtue of operation of the cylinder I3 is accomplished as follows:

Under the bracket 315 in Figure 19 there is illustrated a timing mechanism which includes a lever 31? pivoted at 3H3. The lever is normally held in the position shown in Figure 19 by a lifter arm 3I9 which is attached to the spatulate form mechanism so that it is moved around the shaft 3l8 as a center and swings its free end along the path of the double arrow 32% into and out of engagement with one end of the lever 3!? so that when the spatulate form is in the position shown in Figure 19, the end of the lever 3|? is lifted to the position likewise shown. When the spatulate form moves toward closed press position for the initial pressing of the area 3I2, Figure 17, the support provided by arm 3I9 under the lever 3!! is withdrawn and the lever 3|! is then moved downwardly under the influence of weight 32l and the weight presses against the upper button 322 of the timing stem 323 in the timing cylinder 324. The stem isv provided with a piston at 325 that moves up and down in the cylinder. The cylinder is filled with oil or other liquid and the liquid can pass from below to above the piston 325 by means of the by-pass 328 having a needle valve 32? therein for time control regulation. The cylinder is also provided with a loy-pass at 328 having the check valve 329 which prevents the flow of liquid from below to above the piston when the piston is moving down,

but permits the flow of liquid from above the piston to below it when the piston is lifted up. On the lever 3H there is provided a clip 33%] which is attached to the lever and reaches under the head 322 of the timing stem so that when the lever 3|! is lifted by the action of the arm 3H3 on the swinging spatulate form mechanism, the clip 33% will lift the head 322 of the timing stem and hence raise the piston 325 in the cylinder 32d, and when this occurs the oil which is above the piston is driven through the check valve 329 without restriction and into the area below the piston 325. When the supporting lever 3? is swung downwardly by the action of the movement of the spatulate form mechanism, the weight 32! presses on the head 322 of the timing stem and drives the piston down at a rate determined by the rate of flow of liquid through the needle valve 32? and by-pass 326. This provides a time regulation. When the lever 3i! has moved down to a prescribed position the adjustable bolt 322 thereon moves into engagement with the head 333 of the valve 334 which is normally held closed by the spring 335 and opens this valve, thereby permitting air to flow from line 25? through line 23! and valve 333 to line 262 and thence through the quick release valve 263 and line 2% to cylinder 13, as previously described, thus energizing the cylinder 18 and causing its piston to be moved outwardly from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 3, thus moving the presser heads I0l--|02 and heads lll3l04 from the position shown in Figure 17 to the position shown in Figure 18. The movement of the timing lever 3H, however, is not restricted after opening the valve 334 but merely opened that valve further and after a further interval which times the second portion of the pressing operation, with the heads fill-402 in the position shown in Figure 18, the end 3llA of the lever 31'! which carries the adjustable bolt 33'! is brought into engagement with the head 333 of the operat ing stem on valve 345 which is normally held closed by the action of the spring 3M, thereby permitting air to flow through from line 258 through line 343, valve 348 to line 332 and thence through the check valve 28! to the opening pilot cylinder 283 of the master valve 255. When cylinder 283 thus has air introduced into it the operating lever 255 of the master valve 255 is moved to the dotted line position shown in Figure 19 and valve 255 then exhausts line 25? through the muffler 253. Opening action oi the press can also be accomplished at any time by the operator pressing upon the opening control valve 252 which likewise introduces air through line 284 into the pilot cylinder 283. When the valve 255 is moved to the exhausting condition, in which the line 256 is closed off and line 251 is opened to the exhaust 25%, air is permitted to exhaust from the cylinder 56 and also through line 26!, valve 334, which is then open, and line 262 from the cylinder 13. It will be remembered that so long as cylinder 13 is energized and accordingly in the position shown in Figure 3, the locking lever I54 is in engagement with the locking pad 13 on the lever 12 and accordingly holds the spatulate form mechanism in the position shown in Figures 2-3 and this condition continues until the cylinder 78 is completely retracted. Accordingly, the reach arm 3l9 on the spatulate form mechanism, Figure 19 is in the lowered position and therefore valve 334 remains open, until cylinder it has completely retracted. The quick exhaust valve 263 of Figure 19 operates in the manner already described with reference to the circuit diagram Figure 15 so that when the pressure has dropped slightly in cylinder 78, the valve 253 opens and therefore quickly exhausts cylinder "i8. This produces a smart opening of the press but the spatulate form mechanism can not under any circumstances begin its movement from the position'shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 1 until the cylinder 73 has completely retracted, at which time the presser heads l0|-l52 and I33-lli:l are open in the position shown in Figure 17.

It will be appreciated that many other forms of timing mechanisms may be used in place of that shown in Figure 19- and that, indeed, a timing mechanism need not be used at all, but cylinder it can be operated manually under the control of the operator by use of a separate control valve. The single lay sleeve press timed sequence operation of pressing first a longitudi- 

